Typewriting machine



Aug. 10 1-926 A. G. F. KUROWSKI A TYPEWRITING MACH'INE:

Filed Oct. '26 1923 five/77".:

LIPIII Patented Aug. 10, 1926. Y

UNITED sTA'rss 1,595,608. PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED G. KUROWSKI, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO UNDER-WOODTYPEWRITER COMPANY, OF N EW YORK, N. Y A CORPORATION 0J5 DELAWARE.

- TYPEWRITING MACHINE;

Application. filed October 26, 1923. Serial No. 670,826.

ably the platen, itself, is not line-spaced in the writing of a stencil.Where considerable stenciling work is to be done, it is convenient toemploy a platen having the backing piece fixed thereon, instead of onthe cardholder. Heretofore, however, unless platens, having thebackingfixed thereto, have had line-space movement with the card-holdenthetyping has always been at one line-position on the backing piece; withthe result that the backing piece has soon become worn and has had to bereplaced or reversed.

The object of the present invention is theprovision of means whereby, ina machine in which the platen has no line-space movement in stenciling,and in which the backing is fixed to the platen, the backing maynevertheless be typed upon over substantially its entire area.

'More particularly, a feature of the in vention is the provision ofmeans for effecting rotary adjustment of theplaten with the backing,after the latter is worn at one line-position thereof, so thatsuccessive linepositions of the backing may be set for impact of thetype thereon.

A feature of the invention is a gage for determining the successivesettings or adjustments of the platen and backing, and for indicating,at all times, the existing adjustment ofthe backing, and the amount ofworn and fresh area of the backing.

Other featuresand advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

, Figure 1 is a front view of a platen and associated parts embodyingthe present inright-hand end of the platen, showing more particularlythe gage, and mounting therefor, for effectin of the platen andcelluloid.

The platen 10 has end pieces 11 with hubs 12 thereon, so that, by meansof set-screws 13, the platen'inay be fixedly secured to a shaft 14,journaled in the end plates 15 of the platen carriage or frame. Uponloosening the screws 13, the shaft 14 may be withdrawn lengthwise fromthe platen and the platen removed. from the machine. This enables thespecial platen 10 shown in the drawings to be substituted in the machinefor'the ordinary platen used in other work.

For line-spacing the ordinary platen there is a ratchet-wheel 16 fast tothe platen axle, which is rotated by any suitable line-space mechanism,such, for instance, as that commonly found in the standard Underwoodtypewriting machine, and which comprises a slide (not shown) carrying apawl (not shown) for engagement with the ratchetwheeh- A spring detent17 by engagement with the ratchet-wheel, in the standard machine, holdsthe platen in line-spaced position against accidental rotarydisplacement. The axle 14 of the present s ecial platen is also equippedwith this rateet-wheel 16 and detent 17; but, as hereinafter pointedout, the ratchet-wheel 16 and detent 17 here are employed simply to holdthe platen in its setting, against accidental rotary displacement. Theaxle 14 of the present special platen is also provided with the usualhandwheels 18, whereby the platen may be r0- tated when desired.

Stencil-cards,'oneof which is shown in the machine at 19, aresuccessively placed in a card-holder 20, which latter is not mounted ina suitable manner for line-space movement with the card over the surfaceof the platen while the latter is held against ro-' tation by the detent17. The card-holder may be mounted, by means not shown, on a shaft 21 ona card-holding frame 22 detachably secured by screws 23 to the sidepieces 15 of the platen-frame.

The mounting of the card-holder, and the means by which it receives itsline-space movement with the card, are like that shown in my (Jo-pendingapplication, Serial No.

666,907, filed October 6, 1923, to which reference is made to suchunderstanding thereof as may be necessary. In my aforesaid cothe desiredrotary setting I pending application, line-space mechanism for thecard-holder is actuated by connections to the usual platen line-spacemechanism, at a time when the latter is inoperative upon the platen. Inthat application, 1'. showed the clutch device set forth in UnitedStates Letters Patent to Helmond, No. 1,150,366, dated August 17, 19-15,as the means whereby the linespace mechanism might be renderedineffective to line-space the platen while nevertheless remainingeffective to line-space the card-holder. In the present structure suchclutch mechanism is omitted; and the usual line-space mechanism isrendered ineffective, to line-space the platen, by removal of the pawlwhich ordinarily co-operates with the ratchetwheel 16; the line-spacemechanism remaining effective, however, to line-space the cardholder byvirtue of the connections shown in my aforesaid co-p'end-ingapplication.

A hacking piece 2%, such, for instance, as celluloid, is shown assecured to the face of the platen by means of clips 25. There is a pairof these clips at each side of the card holder frame; and the clips ofeach pair are opposed to each other and slightly offset from the surfaceof the platen, to permit the front and rear edges of the backing pieceor celluloid to be inserted thereunder. Screws, 26 hold the clips 25 tothe platen. The clips are shown as set beyond the side margins of thecard-holder 20, so that the latter may not interfere with the placementand removal of the backing pieces.

Since the platen and backing piece are held by the detent 17 againstrotary movement, while the card-holder is line-spaced successively witheach card or stencil, the backing piece will be repeatedly typed upon atthe same line-position thereof. At such lineeposition of the backingpiece, the same ultimately therefore becomes worn. In accordance withthe present invention, when such wear has reached an objectionablestage. a fresh surface of the backing piece or celluloid may bepresented to the printing. line. This is accomplished by turning theplaten with the backing piece, as by; means ofoneof the hand wheels 18,one or more line-space distances to a new rotary setting thereof. Thedetent 17 permits this rotary adjustment of the platen and backingpiece, and holds the platen with thehacking piece in the new positionto, which it has been turned. A fresh backing surface having been thuspresented to the printing line, the writing or stenciling on the cardsmay proceed as before until a further rotary ustment of the platen withthe, backing piece becomes desirable.

In order that the wear on the backing piece may be extendedprogressively from the front to the rear edgesthereof, andv in orderthat the line-position of typing on the stencil may at all times beknown, and in order that the proper movement of the platen with thebacking piece for a new setting thereof may be properly determined, agage is provided. This gage consists of a plate 27 carried by arms 28 atthe rear thereof, on the shaft 21, and being curved forward and downwardas at 80 over and around the surface of the platen. This plate hasgraduations 31 at line-space distances apart thereon along the path ofrotary adjustment of the platen. These graduations are preferablyprogressively numbered, from front to rear, as indicated at 32. On aplate 33 secured by screws 84 to the surface of the platen is a pointeror indicator 35 for registering with the graduations 31 on thegage-plate 27.

In adjusting the platen and backing piece, the. platen is turned oneline-space distance at a time, starting at the position in which thepointer 85 registers with the'graduation numbered 1 on the plate 27, andcontinu in g until the pointer registers with the graduation numbered 8.In the instance shown, the backing piece is of such width that eightadjustments of the platen result in the use of substantially the entiresurface of the backing piece. Of course, if desired. the backing piecemight be made wider, and further adjustments thereof provided on thegage-plate.

For holding the gage-plate 27 down in proper position over the platenand for preventing angular distortion or displacement thereof, the plate33, is; preferably pro; vided with a stud or block 8.6 which projectsthrough a slot 37 extending lengthwise of the plate 27, and which hasoffsets; 38

rer the upper surface of the plate.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, andportions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, claim:

1. In a typewriting, macnine, the combination with a rotatable platen,types, a backing piece for stencilecutting affiried, to the face of saidplaten and. overlying a plurality of line-position zones thereof, andmeans for disposingsaid Zones, one at a time, at the printing line ofsaid machine, whereby a fresh surface of said backing piece may bepresented, from time to time, for engagement withsaid types, of a, gagearranged for indicating the adjustment of said backing piece. necessaryfor bringing a fresh surface thereof to said printing line.

2. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen-frame, aplaten, a backing piece for stencil-cutting affixed to the face of saidplaten and overlying a plurality of line-position ZOHGS, thereof, andmeans for disposing said zones, one at a time, at the printing line ofsaid machine,

said platen-frame and disposed of a projecting stud-piece mounted onsaid platen, and a curved gage-plate mounted on aarallel with the convexsurface of said platen and having a lengthwise slot arranged to engagearound saidstud-piece, thereby llllllt: ing the extent of'the rotarymovement of said backing piece away from said printing line. l u In atvpewriting machine, thecombination with a platen-frame, a platen, abrickingpiece for stencil-cutting affixed to the face of said platen. soas to overlie a plurality of line-position 'zones'th'ereof, and meansfor disposing any one of said zones at the printing line of saidmachine, of a curved gage-plate mounted on said platenframe and disposedparallel with the convex surface of said platen and having a lengthwiseslot and graduations therealong, a pointer on said platen forregistering with the graduations on said gageplate, and a stud-piecemounted on said platen and engaging in said slot, thereby limiting theretary movement of said backing piece, the length of said slot beingarranged so that some portion of said backing piece will al ways he atsaid printing line.

4:. In a typewriting' machine, a platen, a backing piece, such forinstance as celluloid, affixed to the face of the platen, a cardholder,means for adjusting the position of the platen to present a freshsurface of the backing piece to the printing line, and a gage whereby todetermine the desired adjustment of the platen and backing piece, saidgage comprising a graduated plate on the platen-frame and an indicatoron the platen for registering with the graduations on the gage-plate.

5. In a typewriting machine, a platen, a l):2.Cl-ZlilQ piece, such forinstance as celluloid, attired to the face of the platen, 'a cardholder,means for adjusting the position of the platen to present a freshsurface of the backing piece to the printing line, and a a ge whereby todetermine the desired adjustment of the platen and backing piece, saidgage comprising graduated plate'on the platen-frame slotted lengthwiseof the path along which the platen is adjustable, an indicator on theplaten for registering with the graduations on the gage-plate, and astud or block on the platen set within the slot in the gage-plate.

6, In a typewriting machine, a platen, a backing piece, such forinstance as celluloid, aiiixed to the face of the platen, a cardholder,means for adjusting the position of the platen to present a freshsurface of the backing piece to the printing line, and a whereby todetermine the desired adjustment of the platen and backing piece, saidgage comprising a graduated plate on the platen-frame slotted lengthwiseof the platen, a backing piece, such forinstance as celluloid, aflixedto the face of the platen, a cardholder, means for effecting a rotaryadjustment of the platen to present afresh surface of the backing pieceto the printing line, and a gage whereby to determine the desiredadjustment of the platen and backing piece, :said gage comprising agraduated plate affixed to the platen-frame and curved over the surfaceof the platen,

and an indicator on the platen for registering with the graduations onthe gage-plate.

8. In a typewriting machine, a rotary platen, a backing piece, such forinstance as celluloid, affixed to the face of the platen, acard-holder,'means for efiecting a rotary adjustment of the platen topresent a fresh surface of the backing piece to the printing line, agage whereby to determine the desired adjustment of the platen andbacking piece, said gage comprising a graduated plate aflixed to theplaten-frame and curved over the surface of the platen, and an indicatoron the platen for registering with the graduations on the gage-plate,and means for holding the platen in gaged position.

9. In a typewriting machine, a rotary platen, a backing piece, such forinstance as celluloid, affixed tothe face of the platen, a card-holder,means for effecting a rotary adjustment of the platen to present a freshsurface of the backing piece to the printing line, a gage whereby todetermine the desired adjustment of the platen and backing piece, saidgage comprising a graduated plate aflixed to the platen-frame and curvedover the surface of the platen, and an indicator on the platen forregistering with the graduations on the gage-plate, and means comprisinga ratchet-wheel on the platen and a detent for engagement with theratchet-wheel to hold the platen in gaged position.

- 10. In a typewritin'g machine, a platen, mechanism for line-spacingthe platen, means for disabling the platen line-space mechanism, acard-holder, a backing piece, such for instance as celluloid, secured tothe face of the platen, and means for adjusting the setting of theplaten and backing piece, to present a fresh surface of the backingpiece to the printing line.

11. In a typewriting machine, a platen, a backing piece, such forinstance as celluloid, afiixed to the face of the platen, a cardholder,means for adjusting the position of the platen to present a freshsurface of the backing piece to the printing line, and a gage whereby todetermine the desired adjustment 0f the platen and backing piece, saidgage comprising a plate having graduations thereon at line-spacedistances apart along the path of adjustment of the platen and anindicator on the platen foriregistering with the graduations on thegage.

12. In a typewriting machine, a rotary platen, mechanism forline-spacing the platen comprising aratchet-Wheel afiixed to the platen,means for disabling the platen line-space mechanism, a detent forengagement with the ratchet-Wheel to hold the platen against rotarydisplacement While the platen is held by the detent, a cardholder, abacking piece, such for instance as celluloid, secured to the face ofthe platen,

and means for effecting a rotary adjustment of the setting of the platenand backing piece, to present a fresh surface of the backing piece tothe printing line, the adjusting means comprising a gage-plate affixedto the platen-frame and extending over the surface of the platenandhaving graduations thereon at line-space distances apart along the pathof adjustment of the platen, and an indicator on the platen forregistering With the graduations on the. gage-plate.

ALFRED e. F. KUROWSKI.

